Hotel Lišanj Novi Vinodolski: An Honest Review & Family Guide

I heard so many warm recommendations for family hotel Lišanj, so when we had a free weekend and the weather forecast looked rainy across the whole country, we decided to just go for it and experience our first proper family hotel.

We went as a family of four: me, my husband, our six-year-old daughter, and our one-year-old baby. Three days, off-season, rainy weekend. A real test.

Quick note before we dive in: this is not a paid collaboration. Everything you read here is based on our own experience, paid out of our own pocket.

Why is Family Hotel Lišanj So Popular Among Croatian Families?

It’s a modern, four star hotel in Novi Vinodolski, on the Kvarner coast of northern Adriatic sea. From Zagreb it’s only about two hours and twenty minutes by car.

For families with young kids who don’t do well on long drives, that matters a lot. It also makes Lišanj a natural stop if you’re combining a coastal stay with Gorski kotar, or continuing further down toward Istria, or even Dalmatia.

If you are planning a longer trip around the country, make sure to check out our ultimate Croatia family guide for all our top destination recommendations and practical tips.

But location alone doesn’t explain the reputation this hotel gets from Croatian families.

The real reason is simple: there is something here for every age.

Our six-year-old was in tears when it was time to go home. Our one-year-old spent her days crawling the long hallways and bouncing through soft play areas.

I saw teenagers 16, 17 years old, just as absorbed in the hotel’s facilities as the little ones. That kind of range is rare, and it’s why families come back year after year.

Rooms & Accommodation

The rooms at Lišanj are clean, well-maintained, and straightforward. Nothing overly fancy, but everything you actually need is there, and it’s all kept in good condition.

There are several room configurations to choose from: family rooms, family suites, rooms with one extra bed, two extra beds, and more.

What works for your family depends on the ages of your children, how many kids you have, and whether you need any privacy separation between sleeping areas. I’d recommend going through the options carefully on the booking page before deciding.

Which room type is best for families with babies or toddlers?

If you have a baby who still sleeps in your bed and an older child who needs their own space, here’s a practical tip that actually saved us money: contact the hotel directly before booking and ask if you can book the room for three people (two adults plus one child on an extra bed) and simply bring your baby who co-sleeps with you.

This is exactly what I did. The hotel was accommodating, our room came with a baby cot already set up even though we didn’t end up using it, and we didn’t pay for an extra bed our baby wouldn’t sleep in anyway.

Check Family Room Availability on Booking.com

Kids’ Activities & Facilities: Heaven for Kids (And a Lifesaver for Parents)

This is the section most parents come here for. We were there on a rainy off-season weekend, which meant we were almost entirely indoors.

Even then, three days felt like it wasn’t quite enough. My six-year-old was in tears on checkout day. My one-year-old, who is at the crawling and climbing-everything stage, was equally in her element.

Indoor Playrooms and Outdoor Playgrounds (A Preschool Teacher’s Perspective)

The play facilities are spread across multiple floors, and each one offers something different. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect:

Hotel entrance level

The first thing kids see when they walk in is a large net filled with colourful balls suspended at the entrance.

It’s a genius detail, even if you’re stuck waiting at check-in, your kids are already having fun.

Just a little further in is the giant ball pit. And I mean giant. It takes up an entire room and it’s deep enough that kids disappear into it.

On every floor

Each floor has a soft play structure positioned right in front of the elevators. These are clearly designed for the youngest guests, but don’t be surprised if older kids use them too. Our baby absolutely loved these and used every single one she could find.

The hallways themselves are wide, carpeted, and perfectly safe for babies who are on the move. Our one-year-old treated them like her personal racetrack.

Floor -1: Kids Club space

This is a large, well-equipped room with toys, swings, and content for babies and toddlers. It also doubles as the space for the animation programme, mini disco in the evenings, and cinema nights. More on that in the next section.

Floor -2: The active play floor

This is where older kids lose their minds. Billiard and ping pong in the lobby area lead into a bigger indoor playroom with trampolines, slides, a wall climbing section with proper harnesses and helmets, and large ball pits.

My six-year-old actually spent most of her time on floor -1 in the kids club, which surprised me. But the -2 floor was a clear hit every time we went down there.

There is also a terrace in front of the kids club with outdoor play tunnels. We couldn’t use it during our visit as it wasn’t open yet in the off-season, but it looked great and I imagine it’s a great option in summer.

For older kids and teenagers, there’s also a gym and a video games room. Really something for every age.

Outdoor playgrounds

There are outdoor playgrounds on the hotel grounds as well. On our last sunny day, we noticed most families had moved outside, and the difference in atmosphere was immediate. The outdoor spaces are lovely when the weather cooperates.

Pools, the Beach, and Stroller Accessibility Pools

The hotel offers several pool options:

The beach

The beach is a short walk (a minute maybe) from the hotel and sits right on the main seaside promenade.

You can pick from pebbles, rocks, or a paved area depending on what your kids prefer.

The beach itself is pebbly, which is perfectly fine for kids. If your child has sensitive feet, pack water sandals, they’ll make the whole experience much more comfortable.

We visited on our last day when the sun finally came out, and the contrast with the previous rainy days was striking. The views across to Krk island are beautiful.

Stroller accessibility

The hotel and its surrounding grounds are completely stroller-friendly. Lifts between floors, smooth paths around the property, wide corridors. We had no issues at all navigating with a pram.

Kids’ Club and Animation: Is It Worth It?

Yes. Absolutely!

As a preschool teacher, I go into kids’ club situations with a critical eye.

What I found here really impressed me. The kids club is for children aged 3–12 and operates without parents present.

Before your child joins for the first time, an animator creates a digital card with all the relevant details: the child’s name, date of birth, your stay period, room number, and your contact number.

They also note any information you want them to know.

One detail I particularly appreciated: they use a colour-coded card system. A blue card means your child can leave independently when they want and an orange card means a parent must come to collect them.

It’s a small thing, but it tells you a lot about how seriously they take child safety and communication.

I was nervous the first time. Three hours felt like a long time for a six-year-old in an unfamiliar place. I came after hour and a half and she didn’t want to leave.

The programme includes games, dancing, singing, drawing, and all sorts of structured activities. Animation runs twice a day, and, this was the detail that really surprised me.

You can use the kids club on your checkout day as well. If you want to send your child in on departure day, just request permission at reception the evening before so they can arrange insurance cover for your child.

In the evening, there’s a half-hour mini disco followed by a cinema screening, usually a longer cartoon from a streaming platform. A lovely way to wind down the day.

Planning your trip? Rooms at Family Hotel Lišanj book out fast during the summer season and school holidays.

Dining at Hotel Lišanj: What’s on the Menu for Babies and Picky Eaters?

Food was one of the things I was most curious about before our stay, specifically whether the hotel could actually accommodate a one-year-old eating non-salted, simply prepared food alongside a six-year-old who has her own opinions about what she will and won’t eat.

The short answer: yes, with a little planning on your part.

The board

The hotel offers full board, which they call “light all inclusive.”

Meals are included and there’s a decent selection for everyone. For adults and older kids, you’ll have enough choice to put together a solid plate at each meal.

We found the food pretty decent overall, definitely above average for a hotel.

Breakfast

Breakfast is buffet style with a good spread. You’ll find yoghurt, cereals, boiled eggs, pastries, croissants,sausages, hot dogs, and more. For most babies and toddlers, you’ll be able to pull together something suitable without any special arrangements.

Lunch and dinner: the custom order system

This is the part that matters most for families with babies or children with specific needs.

Each morning after breakfast, you can approach the kitchen staff and pre-order a customised meal for your child for lunch and dinner.

Whether your baby needs unsalted food, your child has an allergy, or you simply have a picky eater who won’t touch anything mixed together, you can ask, and they will do their best to accommodate.

I used this system every day for our baby and it worked well for most meals. 

That said, I’ll be honest about one moment: one evening I requested a piece of veal with boiled vegetables; simple, unsalted.

It arrived salty. I only realised after I had already given our baby a few pieces. It was likely just a mistake, and I didn’t make a fuss about it, our youngest wasn’t particularly hungry that evening anyway, but it’s worth knowing.

If your baby has a strict dietary requirement, always taste the food yourself before serving it.

The Pros and Cons: What We Loved and What Could Be Improved

I promised you an honest review, so here it is.

What we loved

The range of activities covers different ages. From crawling babies to teenagers, we watched kids of all ages absorbed in what the hotel offers.

That is rare and it’s the core reason this place has the reputation it does among Croatian families.

The animation team is strong. Professionally run, safety-conscious, and engaging for kids. As a preschool teacher, I don’t say that lightly.

Full board takes a real weight off. Not having to think about where and what to feed the family for almost three days was, frankly, a relief.

If you’ve ever travelled with a baby and a six-year-old, you’ll understand exactly what I mean.

The hotel is clean. Not perfect in common spaces, but clean enough to feel good about it. Rooms and play areas, which were actually more important to me, were spotlessly clean.

Everything was well maintained throughout our stay. Staff are warm and helpful. We consistently felt like well-treated guests, not just room numbers.

Completely stroller-friendly. Lifts, wide corridors, smooth paths. No obstacles.

The custom meal system for babies and kids. The willingness to prepare something specific for your child each day is a genuine differentiator for families with babies or children with dietary needs.

Checkout day kids club. A small detail that made a real difference to our last morning.

What could be improved

Pool and indoor play area crowding. To be fair to the hotel, we visited on a rainy off-season weekend and practically everyone was indoors at the same time.

At its worst, it was hard to find a spot for your towel, not a relaxing experience in my opinion.

What I can tell you is that on our last sunny day, most families moved outside and the indoor areas felt completely different.

So this is heavily weather and season dependent, but it’s worth knowing if you’re planning an off-season trip.

Some squished balls in the ball pit. A minor thing, but if cleanliness and condition of play equipment matters to you, it’s worth mentioning.

Practical Tips for Your Stay (What to Pack and What to Leave at Home)

A few things worth knowing before you pack.

Leave these at home

Towels. Your room comes with plenty, and the hotel provides separate pool and wellness towels.

You collect these at the wellness reception using a card you get at check-in. Clean ones available whenever you need them.

Bathrobes and slippers. Provided in the room for adults.

Hairdryer. Already in the room.

Baby cot. Available on request. Just mention it when booking or send a quick email beforehand.

Baby feeder/high chair. Available at the hotel, no need to bring your own.

Bring these with you

Water sandals for kids. The beach is pebbly. Fine for most kids, but if yours has sensitive feet, water sandals will make the difference between a happy beach trip and a miserable one.

Snacks for the road. The drive from Zagreb is about two hours and twenty minutes, manageable, but worth having something on hand for younger kids and troughout the day between meals.

Sun protection. Sunscreen, hats, the usual, especially if you’re visiting in peak season when the outdoor pool and beach will be the highlight of the day.

Parking

The hotel has its own parking available at 10 EUR per day. You’ll receive a parking card at reception when you check in.

If you’re interested in book your room, check prices and availability on Booking.com

A note on Novi Vinodolski

We didn’t get to explore the town itself this time. The weather kept us firmly inside the hotel for most of our stay. But Novi Vinodolski is a charming small coastal town with a promenade, a historic old town, and plenty to see if you have an extra day or the sun is on your side. It’s definitely on our list for next time.